Machine for testing or lapping gears or the like



Nov. 29}? 1960 L. o. CARLSEN 2,961,873

mcmm: FOR TESTING 0R LAPPING cams on THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a4 33 2 9 MC al 33 5' 34 I,

4 56 g 85- l; ,1 f 64 J l o Q 0 e9 72 FIG 2 INVENTOR. LEONARD O.CARLSEN ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1960 L. o. CARLSEN MACHINE FOR TESTING OR LAPPING GEARS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-$heet 2 Nov. 29, 1960 L. o. CARLSEN 2,951,373

MACHINE FOR TESTING OR LAPPING GEARS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.8

MACHINE FOR TESTING OR LAPPING GEARS OR THE LIKE Leonard 0. Carlsen, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to The Gleason Works, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 28, 1956, Ser. No. 631,203

14 Claims. (Cl. 73-162) The present invention relates to machines for running together pairs of gears, for testing or lapping them, or the like, and is directed particularly to an improvement which facilitates the establishment of the desired amount of backlash between the gears prior to running them.

The primary object of the invention is a simple, in expensive, and wholly mechanical means whereby in the repetitive testing, lapping, or the like, of a number of gears or pairs of gears of the same design, the machine when once set up to provide the desired amount of backlash, will automatically establish this same amount for each pair irrespective of dimensional differences in the gears resulting from manufacturing tolerances.

A machine according to the invention, for supporting a pair of gear members for running in mesh with each other for testing, lapping, or the like, comprises ahead, a spindle for supporting one of said members, a housing in which the spindle is journaled for rotation and movable on the head to vary the backlash between the gear members, a clamp having a play connection with the housing and adapted to be clamped to the head, a spring for urging the clamp to one limit position of its play connection with the housing, and a manually operable device for in sequence applying the clamp and moving the housing to the other limit position of said play connection against the resistance of said spring. The machine preferably includes a means for adjusting the relative movement between the housing and the clamp permitted by said play connection, in this way providing for adjustment of the backlash between the gears.

The preferred embodiment of the machine is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the entire machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the head of the machine which supports the pinion or smaller gear of the pair;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the backlash control mechanism, the view being in a plane parallel to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view of a stop and lock mechanism which appears on a smaller scale in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail vertical sections respectively in planes 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section in plane 8-8 of Fig. 4.

The machine has a frame 10 on which a horizontal slide 11 is adjustable along ways 12 by turning a screw 13 by means of handwheel 14. A gear head 15 is adjustable vertically along ways 16 of the slide by turning a screw 17 which for this purpose is squared at its upper end to receive a wrench. The head journals a spindle 18 for rotation about a-horizontal axis 19 and is provided with a suitable chuck for a bevel or hypoid gear G to be run in mesh with a mating pinion P. A pinion head 21 is adjustable on the frame along horizontal ways 22 by turning a screw 23 by means of a handwheel 24. The ways 22 are parallel to gear axis 19 and at right angles to ways 12 and to axis 25 of a pinion P carried by the 4 ie Sites ,P f f 2,961,873 Pzftented Nov. 29, 19 60 pinion head. Hence by means of the mentioned three adjustments a gear and pinion of any design within the range of the machine may be brought into mesh.

The pinion P is held by a suitable chuck on a spindle 26 which may be manually rotated by means of a hand wheel 27 or may be power driven through a pulley 28 and an endless belt by a motor (not shown) in the lower part of the frame. The spindle 26 is journaled in a spindle housing 29, Fig. 2, which is pivoted to the head 21 by a pivot pin 31 parallel to the spindle. A spring 32 constantly urges pivotal motion of the housing, counterclockwise in Fig. 2, to a limit position which is determined by abutment of an adjustable stop screw 33 with part 34 of the head.

The spindle housing may be moved against the resistance of spring 32 and held in a definite position relative to the head by means of a centering device comprising an arm 35, Figs. 2 and 3. This arm is pivoted to the head 21 by a pin 36 and has a V-shaped notch 37 for receiving a spherical button 38 on the housing. When the arm is moved counterclockwise the notch earns the button to a centered position therein. Such motion of the arm is effected by a screw 39 which is threaded into the head and is provided with a handle 41. When the screw is backed off the arm is swung clockwise by a spring 42 to release the button 38 and thereby free the housing for motion about pivot pin 31, i.e. in the path indicated by arrow 31' in Fig. 3.

Movable horizontally in bore 43 of head 21, Fig. 3, is a clamp comprising tubular member 44 and, screw threaded thereto, a collet 45 whose right end is split to provide a plurality of relatively flexible fingers 46, Figs. 3 and 7, which may be expanded or flexed radially outwards by an expander 47 to cause their outer surfaces to grip the bore 43. The expander has a conical surface engaging the collet fingers 46 and is constantly urged by a spring 48 in a direction to expand the collet, i.e. to the right in Fig. 3. For the purpose of releasing the collet a nut 49 provided with a handle 51 is screw-threaded, at 52, to the tubular member 44. When the nut is screwed clockwise, to move it on the member 44 to the left in Fig. 3, the expander 47 is moved against the resistance of spring 48 to release the collet, whereupon the clamp assembly, 44, 45, 46, can be slid freely in bore 43.

The clamp has a play connection with the spindle housing 29 comprising a rod 53 on which the tubular member 44 is slidable between two abutments. One of these abutments comprises a shoulder 54 and the other a washer 55 and a nut 56 screw-threaded to the end of the rod. A coil spring 57 acting between the rod and member 44 constantly urges the latter to the right against abutment 55, 56. On the left end of rod 53 is a tongue received in a clevis 58 secured to the spindle housing. A pivot pin 59 rotatable in the clevis has a flattened central portion slidably engaging the sides 61 of a slot formed in the tongue. This tongue and sliding pivot arrangement 58, 59, 61 accommodates pivotal motion of the housing 29 in direction 31' and concomitant axial motion of the rod 53 but holds the rod against turning about its own axis. A key 60 prevents the clamp assembly from turning on the rod.

The amount of backlash provided between the gears G and P is proportional to the amount of axial motion of the clamp assembly between abutment 54 and abutment 55, 56. This amount can be adjusted by turning the abutment nut 56 through an angle which can be read by means of calibrations on a ring 62 which is secured to the nut by a set-screw 63. These calibrations may be read in conjunction with a mark on a cap 64 which is non-rotatably secured to the rod 53.

The drive motor for spindle 26 (which motor is beltconnected to pulley 28) is controlled in. part by a limit switch 65 secured to tubular member 44. When the tubular member 44 of the clamp is in contact with shoulder 54 of rod 53 a screw 66 carried by clevis 58 abuts the actuating stem 67 to close the switch and thereby render the motor operable. Thus unless the member 44 does abut shoulder 54 the machine cannot be power operated although the spindle 26 may be rotated manually by means of handwh'eel 27.

For limiting advance of head 21, i.e. motion of the head to the left in Fig. 1 along ways 22, a stop screw 68, Figs. 2 and 4, threaded into bracket 69 of the head abuts a hardened steel button 71 on a plate 72. Plate 72, Figs. 2, 4 and 8, overlies a plate 73 that is fixed to the frame the plates being held together by a screw fastener 74 which extends through an opening in plate 72 and through an elongated slot 75 in plate 73. The adjacent faces of the plates have interengaging serrations 76, and, for the purpose of coarse adjustment of the advanced limit position of the head the plate 72 may be shifted on plate 73 after first loosening the fastener 74. For the purpose of fine adjustment, the stop screw 68 may be turned in bracket 69 by means of its knurled knob 77 after first loosening a jam nut 78.

In order to prevent withdrawal of the head 21 to loading position, i.e. to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, while the clamp 44, 45 is effective, a lock operated by nut 49 (handle 51) is provided. This lock comprises a bolt 79 silidable vertically in the head 21 and having its lower end engageable in a keeper recess 81 in adjustable plate 72. The rod is constantly urged upwardly, to a position clear of the recess, by a spring 82, Fig. 5. It is moved downwardly, into the recess, by a cam 83 rigid with the nut 49'. The cam is so shaped that the lock is released only when the handle 51 is moved to the right in Fig, 5, at which time the nut 49 has moved the expander 47 to the left in Fig. 3 and thereby released the clamp 44, 45, 46. The cam engages a hardened steel follower 80 rigid with the rod 79 which is held against rotation in the head 21 by a key 90.

For the purpose of showing the magnitude of motion of the spindle housing 29, Fig. 2, about its pivot pin 31, an indicator gage 84 is provided. The actuating stem 85 of the gage is constantly urged downwardly against a bracket 86 on the housing 29 by a light spring 87, Fig. 6. As the housing pivots to displace the spindle 26 to the left or to the right in Fig. 2 from its neutral position, the bracket respectively raises or lowers the stem 85 by an amount which is shown by the indicator gage 84.

A typical operation of the machine will now be described, starting with the head 21 in its leading position, to the right of its working position shown in Fig. 1; with the clamp 44, 45, 46 released; and with the screw 39 tightened to apply the centering device 35, 37, 33. By mounting suitable gages (not shown) on the spindles 18 and 26 and then turning the handwheels 14 and 24 to advance slide 11 and head 21 until the gages abut each other, the spindles may be brought to their correct relationship for running together perfect specimens of the gears G and P. This relationship includes a pro-selected amount of backlash between the gears. The correct advanced limit position of head 21 is established by adjusting the plate 72 011 plate 73, and by then turning the screw 68 until it abuts stop 71 and tightening jam nut 78. The indicator 84 is now adjusted to read zero; the head 21 is withdrawn to loading position by turning handwheel 24; and the centering device 35, 39 is released.

An actual pair of gears G and P are now mounted on the spindles 18 and 26 and the head 21 is advanced to its limit position determined by stop means 68, 71. The gears will now be held in metal-to-metal engagement by action of spring 32 since the centering device is now ineffective. The calibrated nut 56 is turned to separate tubular member 44 from abutment shoulder 54 by a distance equal to that through which the pinion must be withdrawn from theLgearto establish the preselected amount of backlash. This distance may be determined by calculation or by trial with actual gears mounted in the machine. In either case after the setting of nut 56 has been made, the handle 51 is swung to its limit position to the left in Fig. 5, to thereby apply the clamp 44, 45, 46 and to draw shoulder 54 against tubular member 44. This latter motion is against the resistance of springs 32 and 57, and it retractsthe spindle housing to establish the pre-selected amount of backlash between the gears. Simultaneously the locking bolt 79 is entered into recess 81 and screw 66 abouts against switch stem 67 to thereby condition the motor circuit to enable the gears to be run together by power. At this time the indicator gage will show by what amount, if any, the gear mounting distance, i.e. the distance from the back face of gear G to pinion axis 25, differs from the design mounting distance. A record of this information may be made for use later on, in the assembly of the gears in their mounting. The gears are now run together in the machine, for testing, lapping, or other purpose. When this is concluded the head 21 may be withdrawn to loading position after first moving the handle 51 to its right limit position in Fig. 5, for the head cannot be withdrawn until the lock bolt 79 is retracted. And since the clamp 44, 45, 46 is released when the bolt is retracted, it is impossible for another pair of gears to be run together on the machine until the backlash setting has been established anew. However, to thus run together another pair of gears G and P of the same design, it is only necessary to mount such gears on the spindles, advance the head 21 against the stop 71, and swing the handle 51 to its left limit position in Fig. 5. This will automatically establish the pre-selected amount of backlash.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of the invention, and one manner of operating the same, what is claimed is:

1. A machine for supporting a pair of gear members for running in mesh with each other, for testing, lapping, or the like, the machine comprising a head, a spindle for supporting one of said members, a housing in which the spindle is journaled for rotation and movable on the head to vary the backlash between the gear members, a clamp having a play connection with the housing and adapted to be clamped to the head, a spring for urging the clamp to one limit position of its play connection with the housing, and a manually operable device for in sequence applying the clamp and moving the housing to the other limit position of said play connection against the resistance of said spring.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said device comprises a clamp-applying spring and a manually operatcd screw-threaded member which when moved in one direction releases the clamp-applying spring to thereby effect application of the clamp and then effects relative motion between the housing and the clamp to the limit of said play connection against the resistance of the firstmentioned spring.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which there is a means for adjusting the relative movement permitted by said play connection between the housing and the clamp.

4. A machine according to claim 1 in which the head is movable on the frame of the machine between a loading position and an operating position, and there is a lock. operable by and upon operation of said manually operable device, for holding the head in operating position until said device is returned to clamp-releasing position.

5. A machine according to claim '4 in which there is a motor driven spindle in said housing, and a motor control switch arranged to permit motor drive of the spindle only when the clamp is in the said other limit position of said play connection.

6. A machine according to claim 4 in which there is a stop for the head that is adjustable on the frame to determine said operating position of the head, and the keeper for said lock is on said stop.

7. A machine according to claim 1 in which there is another spring acting between the head and the housing for urging the latter to a limit position in the head when the clamp is released. 7

8. A machine according to claim 7 in which there is a centering device movable on the head into engagement with the housing for moving the latter into a definite position relative to the head against the resistance of said other spring and for holding the housing in said definite position, and a manually-operable screw threaded into the head for eifecting such movement of the centering device.

9. A machine according to claim 1 in which there is a rod carried by the spindle housing and having spaced abutments; the clamp comprises a tubular member relatively slidable on the rod between said abutments to provide said play connection, said tubular member being urged into engagement with one of said abutments by said spring, a radially expansible collet slidable in the head and adapted to grip the head when expanded, an expander for said collet slidable on the tubular member, and a second spring for urging such sliding of the expander in a direction to expand the collet; and said manually operable device comprises a nut screw threaded to the tubular member and adapted when turned in one direction to move the expander in opposition to said second spring and adapted when turned in the opposite direction to act against said one of said abutments to move the rod relative to the clamp in opposition to the first-mentioned spring to bring the other one of said abutments into engagement with the tubular member.

10. A machine according to claim 9 in which said one of said abutments comprises a nut adjustably screwthreaded on the rod.

11. A machine according to claim 9 in which the head is movable on the frame of the machine between a loading position and an operating position, a stop for the head adjustable on the frame to determine said operating position, a lock carried by the head and engageable with a keeper on said stop, and a cam on said nut for shifting the lock into and out of engagement with said keeper.

12. A machine for supporting a pair of gears for running in mesh with each other, for testing, lapping, or the like, comprising a frame; a head slidable on the frame between a loading position and a working position, a stop for the head adjustable on the frame to determine said operating position of the head; a spindle housing journaling a spindle adapted to support one of said gears and pivoted to the head on an axis parallel to the spindle; a first spring acting between the head and the housing for urging the latter to a limit position relative to the head; a centering device operable to move the housing to a definite position relative to the head and for holding the housing in said definite position; a rod pivotally connected to the housing and having spaced abutments thereon; a clamp comprising a member slidable on the rod between said abutments, a radially expansible collet slidable in the head and adapted to grip the head when expanded, an expander for the collet slidable on said member, and a second spring urging such sliding of the expander in a direction to expand the collet; a third spring acting between the rod and said member of the clamp for urging the member toward one of said abutments; and a manually operable nut screw-threaded to said member and adapted when turned in one direction from a neutral position to move the expander in opposition to said second spring to thereby release the grip of the collet upon the head and when turned in the opposite direction from said neutral position to move the rod relative to the clamp in opposition to said third spring to bring the other one of said abutments into engagement with said member of the clamp.

13. A machine according to claim 12 in which said one of said abutments comprises a nut adjustably screwthreaded on the rod.

14. A machine according to claim 12 in which there is a manually operable screw threaded to the head for applying the centering device and a spring reacting against the head for releasing said centering device References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,170 Condon Mar. 15, 1938 2,582,408 Bauer Jan. 15, 1952 2,762,220 Carlson et a1 Sept. 11, 1956 

